Apparatus for making portions of sinks



June 17, 1941. v J GRAF 2.246.204

APPARATUS FOR MAKING PORTIONS OF SINKS Original Filed Aug. 25, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORN I s.

June 17, 1941. v, J, GRAF 2,246,204

APPARATUS FOR MAKING PORTIONS OF SINKS Original Filed Aug. 25, 1953 4-She ets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR flee/2i J 6712f g-J WW ATTORN YS June 17, 1941. v. J. GRAF 2,246,204

APPARATUS FOR MAKING PORTIONS OF-SINKS Original Filed Aug. 25, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I INVENTOR ,7 i uzCerzi JG'r 4 BY June 17, 1941. v. J. GRAF 2,246,204

APPARATUS FOR MAKING PORTIONS OE SINKS I Original Filed Aug. 25, 1933 4 tsheet 4 INVENTQR Tr zcenxf J 6'1 BY 09 14 WW EW ATTORN YS.

Patented June 17, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,246,204 a e i APPARATUS FOR MAKINGPORTIONS F Vincent J. Graf, Detroit,Mich.,-assignor, "by

mcsne assignments, to Steel Plumbing -Wares, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Original application August 25, 1933,:SerialNc. Q

686,796. Divided and this application ber 13, 1937, Serial No. 179,388

Decemf l I 2 Claims. (01.113-49) I This invention relates to sinks or washbasins formed by stamping or draw die operations, and to an apparatus for producing the same, and particularly, although not exclusively, to the formation from a single sheet or blank of metal of a 1 sink of that character or design preferably having a basin, a single or double drainboard, terminating in a depending apron flange, and an upright flanged back wall orsplashboard.

This application is a division of my co-pend-I ing application Serial No. 686,796, filed August 25, 1933. p

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for pressing or drawing the entire sink from a single blank of metal while at the same time producing around the edge of the back wall or splashboard a continuous flange which thereby securing substantial economies in manurfacture and improved appearance, while eliminating enameling flaws resulting from the difflculty in providing a, clear, uniform, baked.

enamel surface due to welds in the foundation metal.

A further object is to provide anapparatus capable of producing a rolled or turned marginal rim between the basin and apron flange and one which will join the rim to the upright splash-.

board or back panel by increasing the metal area atthe juncture thereof.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the sink.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the blank as formed by the dies of Fig. 2. p

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section of the die mechanism for preliminarily forming the splashboard of the sink.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of formed by the mechanism of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view continuous, uninterrupted the blank a;

illustrating the ,mechanism for reforming the basin portion and further fabricating the blank. Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the blank formed in the mechanism of Fig. 6. e 7 7 Fig. 8 is, a verticalitransverse section of the mechanism for further formation of the splashboard of the sink. I a

9 is a perspective view of the sink after it issues frcii nthe; mechanism of 8. 7

,10 a vertical transverse section illustrating the mechanism forflangingthe splash,

die members for forming the basin portion ofboard.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the blank as it appearsjafterthe; operation performed by the mechanism of Figgll). a I

V Fig. 12 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section 'illustratingthe next operation of fabricatingthe sink.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view'o'f the sinkas it appears after ,the operation performed by the mechanism of Fig.12.

Fig. .l4 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section ofthe mechanism for trimming the bott m fla of e k.

Fig. 15 a fragmentary perspective viewof the sink after the trimming operation of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 ,is afr'agmentary section of the mecha-.

nism for trimmin'g thetop and side flanges of the a Fig. 17, is a fragmentary perspective view of the sinkafter the operation performed in Fig. 16. Before explaining in detail the'present inventionfit is to be understood that the invention 'isfnotlimited in its application to .the details ofcOnstru tiQn and arrangement of parts illustrated .the accompanying drawings, since the ,.is. a b e fpther m d t and fbein practiced. or carried out in various ways.

, Also it is to ,be lllldel'stgdd that the phraseology or lie iminologyemployed herein is .for the purpose of descriptionyandnot of 'limitation, and vit is not. intended to limit'theclaimed invention herein beyond the requirements of .the prior art.

, In accordance with the invention there is for medj-from ,a single metal blank or. sheet, a sink which :mayeitherbeof the double or single drainboard tyne orsimply a basin type,.ha ving a continuousdepending apron flange extending around the frontv and sides, ,,and an upstanding back panel or splashboard which is rearwardly flanged along the top" and ends thereof, the lower part of the end flanges of the splashboard continuing intc the ,rear portions of the, apron flange. Heretofo're where it has' been attempted to fabricat'e sinks'of this character from sheet metal it has been necessary to slit or cut away a part of the metal at the juncture of the splashboard and the rolled edge or rim of the basin or of the drainboard, as the case may be. Moreover, in accordance with previous practice it has been necessary to close these slitted edges by welding. Furthermore, the fabrication of such sinks according to previous practice has resulted in leaving gaps between the rear edges of the apron.

and the splashboard flanges, and these gaps have been filled in by metal patches welded in posttion. ihus, it will be noted that previous practice has necessitated either slitting or; patching, or both, and the consequent welding of the metal at such points. Such practice has not only introduced expensive operations but hasrendered. it difficult if not impossible to. produce a final product of satisfactory appearance. This is particularly true where the formed article is provided with a surface finish of enamel, it having been found in practice that-blemishes or imperfections. appear in the enameled surfaces. at points where welding hastaken. place.

In the drawings there is illustrated an apparatus'for performing a succession of different steps by which a sink of the double drainboard type may be formed from a single-metal sheet or blank free from welded joints. and patches. It

will be understood, of course, thatthe apparatus is equally'applicable to the formation of a single drainboardsink, and in fact oi. a. sink without a drainboard wherein the structure comprises a fluid; basin, an uprightback or splashboard and a continuous apron flange extending around the front and sides of the basin andmerging with the flanged endsof thesplashboard.

In Fig. 2 I have shown. the. mechanism for. forming the basin portion B of thesink, or wash.-

basin. A single sheet or blank of metal A is placed in position in adie which, for convenience.

is shown in closed position. This. die is used in a. t gle. .or double acting, sheet. metal drawing press, show. as a 24. The die. comprises a.

punch 25, a lower die ring 26-. andv an llppcr die member or hold-down. ring 21' which-binds the metal sheet or blank in. position between the, die members so thatthe. punch can draw the metal to provide the basin portion B... The, blankissues from the apparatus of Fig. 2 in the form in,

which itis showninFig. 3.,

Thenext operation. is that. of preliminarily formingthe splashboard. or back portion C. This operation is performed in. a die, shown in closed position, which is used in. a. single acting sheet metal. bending press.v 28,. provided with. an. air

cushion under the bed. of. the press and. pins 29.- extending through the-press. bed. and lower die member 30 with their upper ends. engaging the.

shown) A punch pad or upper binder plate 33 is .used tov hold the metal inposi'tion. The pins 23, serve, to. apply, pressure from, the, air cushion, located in, the bed of, the 1111655,,toralsethe pad 31 above, the die. member, 30, to hold. the metal sheet, securely betweenthe pad 3! and the punch.

32. In, Fig. 5 I have shown-the partially fabricated. blank as it issues from. the apparatus of Fig. 4-.

In Fig. 6 there is. shown a diefor. performing thesecond drawing operation on basin B andifor forming the drainboard D and drainboard beads. The die is shown in closed position and is used in a toggle or double-acting drawing press. The broken lines AA show the shape of the metal before the instant operation is performed. A portion of the press is shown at 34, the ram of which actuates a punch 35. 36 represents an interchangeable drainboard punch or male units which are integral with the punch 35. A lower die member 31 cooperates with the punch 36 to redraw the basin and form the drainboard and drainboard beads. Interchangeable units 38 are provided so that either a single drainboard and beads or a double drainboard and beads may operation, performed by thev mechanism of Fig. 6.

In Fig. 8 the die. is shownin closed position,

which dieperforms the second operation on the.

splashboard C. 42- designates a .punch for forming the splashboard, the latter being bent from its horizontal position shown. in broken lines at CC, to the vertical full-line position C between the. punch 42 and a. die member 43, the latter being fastened to the, bed of the press. 4.4v is a punch pad or upper binder plate which holds the, metal in position. During the operation in In Fig. 10 there isshown a mechanism for embossing the face o'f'the splashboard and for forming flanges. on the, top and ends of said splashboard; This mechanism also comprises a punch or male form 45a which is actuated from the ram. of the press and cooperates with a die 46,

to form the top and end flanges on the splashboard C. A. hold-down ring or binder plate 41 binds the metalin the space between it and the die 46 to hold it from wrinkling or buckling when forming, A die pad or die. insert 48 is actuated by and yieldably held in position by pressure pins 49 and; serves tohold the metal between itself and the punch 45a. The die pad 48 carries a steel embossing member or die block 50 which is held within a recess in the upperv face of the die pad 48. Downward movement of the punch against the die insert 48 causes the die-block 50 to emboss the splash panelat C Pressurepins 5;l engage the embossingmember 59 so that when the die pad 48 moves down to a given point the.

pins 5! willproject the embossing member 50 into the position shownin Figure 10 to form in cooperation With thedie 45a the embossed panel 0 Thus, the mechanism oi Fig. 10 produces the,

formed by'the'mechanisms of Figs. 8'and1'0,the back panelC is formed with a continuous flange and the marginal'area F of the'fr'ont section' is formed into a continuous apron flange merging into the back wall flang'ing. In accomplishing this'the marginal metal of the back or splash result thereof is illustrated in Fig. 11', wherein" the back or splash-panel C is provided with' a continuous uninterrupted flange along the-topedge at C' and downwardly above the end or side edges at C the flange portions C merging into a horizontal area J, the metal of which is drawn largely from the area I shown in Fig. 9. The direction of the draw producing the areas C, C and J is illustrated by the arrows in Fig. 11, and the shape of the blank at this stage is also substantially illustrated in this figure. Although a part of the metal during the draw may remain in the form of a web K, this portion may be readily removed in the final trim operations.

In Fig. 12 there is shown mechanism for drawing the apron flange E of the sink and for embossing the drain opening in the basin B. A die construction is shown which comprises a lower die ring or member 52, a punch or male form 53, a hold-down ring or binder 54, and a die plate 55, which latter is fastened to die ring 52. The mem ber 55 serves as a rest for pad 56, binder plate 51 and forming punch 58. The punch 58 forms the drain emboss in the sink basin B and is secured to the die plate 55. Pressure pins 60 serve to apply pressure from air cushions (not shown) in the bed of the press and to raise the die pad 56 and binder plate 51 above the die ring 52, thus to hold the sheet metal sink A securely between the plate 51 and the punch or male form 53 before forming. As the press closes and the die members move relatively to one another the die ring 52 wipes the apron portion E of the sink from its horizontal position shown in broken lines at EE to the upright position shown in full lines. The

result of this operation is the sink shown in Fig. 13 which has the apron E extending continuously around the front and sides or ends thereof. Thus the rear portions of the apron flange E form integral continuations of the splashboard end flanges C The next two operations are performed by the mechanism shown in Figs. 14 and 16. These are the trimming of the front and sides of the apron flange E as shown in Fig. 14 and the trimming of the top and sides of the splashboard C, as shown by Fig. 16. Each figure shows a cam die in closed position, to be used in a single acting sheet bending press. The ram 6| of the press carries a cam driver or wedge 62 which actuates a die cam 63, the die cam containing steel trimming sections or cutters 64, and being supported by a die shoe 65. The die shoe serves as a carrier for the die cam 63 and is fastened to the bed of the press. A spring tensioned cam pad or binder plate 66 holds the sink A in proper position for the trim ming operation. The gauge or support for locating the apron is shown at 61 in Fig. 14, whereas the gauge or locater for the splashboard is shown at 68 in Fig. 16. After the apron flanges have been trimmed in Fig. 14, the sink is transferred to the position in which it'is shownin Fig; '16and the flanges of the splashboard are trimmed. Figs. 15 and 17 show the sink after it issues from the respective trimming operations.

After the foregoing operation-s of trimming around the edges of the apron'flan'ges and the flanges of the upright splashback or panel, the sink'may be introduced into a suitable press or presses. provided with mechanism for flanging the bottom'edges of the front and sides of the apron E and also for flanging' theedgesof the top andsides or ends of the splashboard or panel C. Alsozthe sink may beoperated on by suitable mechanism for piercing the metal to form the drain hole orlopening in the bottom of basin B. The flanging mechanism and drain hole piercing mechanism, may be constructed in accordance with my aforesaid co-pending application.

:In the present embodiment herein illustrated, I have set forth an apparatus for forming a sink or washbasin from a single piece of sheet metal. The invention, however, is not limited to the sequence of operations performed by theapparatus shown, nor is it limited to the particular form or type of apparatus shown since, obviously, the mechanism of certain figures of the drawings may be combined or rearranged in any desired order or sequence.

If desired the back or splashboard panel and the basin or drainboard panel may first be formed, after which the basin and the drainboard proper may be pressed out. In some instances the drainboard or apron flange will be omitted, and in such case it will be understood that the rolled rim T will form the upper margin of the basin proper. Considered from one aspect the invention contemplates (1) forming a substantially horizontal basin panel and a back or splashboard panel substantially at right angles thereto, (2) rearwardly upsetting or drawing the metal at each end of the back panel to produce a vertical end flange on the back panel and a co-extensive horizontal extension of the marginal portion of the basin panel, and (3) downwardly drawing or pressing said marginal portion and extension to provide a continuous apron flange terminating at its rear edge substantially in line with the rear vertical edge of the back panel flange.

It will also be understood that the invention may be carried out by first stamping the blank or sheet to produce the horizontal basin panel and the upright or vertical splashboard panel; second, drawing the marginal portions of the basin panel downwardly to provide a continuous apron around threesides thereof, and third, rearwardly flanging the back panel or splashboard around its three edges and drawing the metal at the juncture of the back panel and apron to increase the metal area so as to form the end flange of the back panel with an extension of the apron.

Thus, it will be seen that the invention, in one of its broader aspects, contemplates forming a single metal blank or sheet by pressing or drawing operations, through suitable dies and blank holders, to produce a horizontal panel or section having a basin incorporated therein either with or without a drainboard or drainboards, a continuous integral apron flange extending around three sides of the horizontal panel, a substantially vertical back panel or splashboard continuously flanged around its three edges; and drawing the metal at or near the juncture of the back panel and apron (see Figs. 10 and 11) to introduce into the apron at the rear edges thereof integral extensions of the back 'panelflanging.

1. In an apparatus for forming portions :of a sink from a single preformed metal blank embodying a basin, a laterally projecting apron forming portion and an upright back :panel; mechanism for forming a continuous uninterrupted rearwardly projecting flangealong theup per and end marginal edges of said backpanel, comprising cooperating die portions for pressing rearwardly the upper edge portion of the back panel and cooperating cl-ie portions for simulta neously'pressing rearwardly the upright end portions of said back panel to form rearward extensions of the apron forming portion integral with the rearward marginal flanging of the back panel.

.2. In .an apparatus for forming portions of a sink from a single preformed metal blank embodying :abasin :a laterally projecting apron forming portion and an upright back panel; mechanism for forming a continuous uninterrupted rearwardly projecting flange along the upper and-end marginal edges: of said back panel, comprising cooperating die portions for pressing rearwardly the upper edge portion of the back panel and cooperating die portions for simultaneously pressing rearwardlythe upright end portions of said back' 'panel to form rearward extensions of the apron forming portion integral with the rearward marginal fianging of the back panel, and: a member cooperating with one of said die portions for simultaneously forming an embossed-panel located within the area of said back panel.

VINCENT J. 'GRAF. 

